NA condemns India’s targeting of civilians, ceasefire violations

Islamabad—The National Assembly (NA) passed on Wednesday a resolution condemning Indian targeting of a passenger bus in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) that caused deaths of 11 civilians and injuries to several others.
“The deliberate targeting of a civilian bus carrying women and children in the Neelum valley of AJK on November 23, resulting in deaths of 11 innocent civilians and injuries to six others is indeed deplorable,” it said.
It also said that the lower house of parliament strongly denounces Indian escalation of the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB) aimed at diverting international attention from the grim situation in held-Kashmir.
The resolution termed New Delhi’s lack of cooperation and limited access to United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), to fulfill its mandate i.e. monitor ceasefire violations and ensure peace and tranquility at the LoC and Working Boundary, as appalling.
“People of Pakistan laud the bravery and unwavering commitment of the armed forces for their befitting response to the ceasefire violations and call upon the United Nations to take immediate notice of Indian provocations threatening regional peace.”
The NA also condemned “brutal and unabated violence by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 150 civilians and injuries to thousands”. The resolution also denounced detention of Hurriyet leaders, human rights activists, journalists and political leaders in the mountainous valley.
Frequent incidents of cross-border shelling have been witnessed since a heightened situation in held-Kashmir. More than 100 protesters have lost their lives to the security forces in the valley while dozens blinded by use of pellet guns.
The two countries have been at loggerheads since the killing of a populist rebel leader Burhan Wani by the occupied forces in the valley on July 8.
India also accuses Pakistan of being involved in an attack on an army base in Uri on September 18, in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Islamabad has denied the charge, which New Delhi levelled without any substantial investigation or evidence.